Businesses have been utilizing the potential of social media since its beginning, and trends have shown that social media will only continue to be a major tool for workplaces and employees. In fact, if you are taking web development courses, you may find social networking to already have a larger role in your studies. Websites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are great for companies looking to market their brand, or gain followers through “likes” and online interactions. Websites like LinkedIn, BranchOut and AngelList are more geared towards those searching for a job or wishing to network with professional individuals.

Looking for Jobs

Social media has become a great place to job search, with websites like LinkedIn acting essentially as a resume. LinkedIn usage is highest among those with a bachelor’s degree and those who earn over $75,000/year, who are exactly the people a new graduate, perhaps in business management school, wants to be meeting and networking with.

Some tips for creating a functional and attractive LinkedIn profile include adding a headshot and a professional headline. LinkedIn is also a way to display everything that isn’t on your resume. Upload links with examples to your work and any extra certifications you have which could help you get the job. The better you market yourself, the more likely it is that possible employers will click on your profile and read it. Your best advice is to spend a few hours really perfecting your profile. Good writing and an interesting tone complemented by an interesting body of work will maximize the potential of a LinkedIn profile.

Network Building + Expanding

For some careers, networking is not an option but a necessity and part of the job. The biggest piece of information we can give you here is to follow through with any connections you make. It would be a shame to finally be accepted by a valuable contact on social media, only to let the contact drop by never interacting with them. Places like LinkedIn are valuable for networking, whereas social media websites like Twitter and Facebook are better for your social life outside of work. Nonetheless, follow, friend and retweet contacts or companies who you wish to work for one day, because you never know what opportunities could arise from being in touch. Say if you are a graduate of a 3D animation college, you may want to follow various production studios and companies in the chance they are hiring, or there is an event you can attend to learn more.

Watch What You Write

This isn’t meant to be a warning, but more of a guideline. The internet is by nature a more casual zone than face-to-face contact. As such, this can lead you to become careless with your presentation, or maybe your spelling. This rule applies for your Facebook/Twitter/other social media profiles where you want to maintain a clean persona online. Make sure everything available publicly reflects well on you! This means if you have some “unprofessional” photos on Facebook, then it’s a given you do not add your boss as a friend. Or, you could use BeKnown, a social media application which links a business profile to your Facebook but keeps your personal and professional profiles separate.